#GENVOICES: A Generation Set To Change Nigeria

The Spokesman of Gen Voices, a movement of young Nigerians, Bunmi Otegbade, has said that the mission of the group is to “stop complaining” about the problems in the most populous black nation and “take action” by raising a generation of leaders that would bring change in the social, economic and political sectors.

Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Otegbade said that the group aims to bring together young citizens who have created impact in their local communities; combine the different energies into “a positive energy” that would “raise a generation of leaders that would change Nigeria.”

The group which he said is non-governmental and non-profit oriented “is a movement of young people who have decided that it’s time to stop complaining and take action.”

In a country where public distrust of the government is commonplace, several have questioned the origin of the initiative. Commenting on doubts that sceptics have raised, Otegbade said that the movement is being powered by “young Nigerians who have decided that it can’t be next year. It can’t be sometime in the future. It can’t be anyone else but us.”

He noted that “one of the critical questions we ask ourselves is, if not now, when? If not us, who?”

He added: “We are well equipped to create change, including the funding, ideation, driving.

“The core of GEN Voices are people who are very well established in business. Young people well established in business, in government (in some cases).”

Team members as well as “other Nigerians who have bought into the idea, vision” also made financial commitments to the movement.

He stressed that the government needs to involve the youth in its plans to grow the economy as “people who are setting the agenda for 2050 would not be here in 2050. We will be here in 2050. We need to be part of that process… so that the maturity that’s required to craft the right policies, to execute properly, we can all build it as we go along the way.”

The Gen Voices Charter, “a simple document that describes what the youths want,” will be unveiled at the official debut of the movement which will hold in Lagos, on Saturday.